Paint ball reservoir connector with collet

ABSTRACT

A paint ball gun reservoir connector for connecting a paint ball reservoir to a paint ball gun. The reservoir connector includes a connector nipple with a collet disposed at the upper end of the connector nipple. The lower end of the connector nipple is attached to the upper portion of the paint ball gun, immediately above the breach portion of the paint ball gun. The paint ball reservoir has a downwardly directed reservoir nipple which is securely clamped to the upper end of the connector nipple by the collet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to gas-fired guns and, more particularly, to gas-fired paint ball guns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Competitive games using gas-propelled paint ball guns have become extremely popular.

[0003] A continuing problem with such paint ball guns has to do with the connection between the paint ball gun and the paint ball ammunition reservoir.

[0004] Typically, the paint ball reservoir is a large lightweight plastic container disposed above the breach portion of the paint ball gun. The paint ball reservoir is typically connected to the paint ball gun by clamping it to a connection nipple which projects upwardly from the breach portion of the gun. This connection method has several disadvantages.

[0005] First of all, tightening down on the clamp frequently “flattens out” the downwardly projecting nipple at the base of the paint ball reservoir. The term “flattens out” refers to the lateral distressing of the downwardly projecting nipple so that the cross-section of the downwardly projecting nipple is no longer circular, but is instead oval in shape. Flattening out this nipple narrows the outlet opening of the paint ball reservoir and may inhibit the free downward gravitation of paint balls from the paint ball reservoir into the breach.

[0006] Secondly, if the paint ball reservoir outlet nipple is not rigidly clamped (so as to minimize problems with the “flattening out” of the nipple opening), the paint ball reservoir may not be rigidly retained on the paint ball gun.

[0007] It is therefore typical for users of paint ball guns to retain paint ball reservoirs on the connection nipple using duct tape or other artificial means. The use of duct tape, however, makes it difficult and awkward to replace paint ball reservoirs in the field under competitive conditions.

[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved paint ball reservoir connection system which is relatively inexpensive and easy to use, but which avoids the aforementioned problems in the prior art.

SUMMARY

[0009] The invention satisfies this need. The invention is a paint ball gun reservoir connector for connecting a paint ball reservoir to a paint ball gun, wherein the paint ball reservoir has a downwardly directed reservoir nipple. The reservoir connector comprises (a) a connector nipple having a sufficient interior diameter to allow the serial passage of paint balls through the connector nipple one at a time, and (b) a collet disposed on one end of the connector nipple. The collet is adapted to be capable of accepting and securely clamping the reservoir nipple to the connector nipple.

[0010] The use of the collet at the upper end of the connector nipple has been found to provide an effective connection device which rigidly retains the paint ball reservoir to the paint ball gun without “flattening out” the reservoir nipple.

DRAWINGS

[0011] These features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying figures where:

[0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a paint ball gun reservoir connector having features of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paint ball gun reservoir connector from FIG. 1, this view showing each of the elements fully assembled; and

[0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the paint ball gun reservoir connector illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along line 3-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.

[0016] The invention is a paint ball gun reservoir connector 10 for connecting a paint ball reservoir 12 to a paint ball gun 14. The reservoir connector 10 comprises a connector nipple 16 having a collet 18.

[0017] The reservoir connector 10 is suitable for use in a paint ball gun 14 having a paint ball reservoir 12 disposed atop the paint ball gun 14. The paint ball reservoir 12 has a downwardly directed reservoir nipple 20 with an outside diameter which is typically between about ¾ inches and about 2 inches, most typically between about ⅞ inches and about 1⅛ inches, and an inside diameter between about ⅝ inches and about 1 inch, most typically between about {fraction (11/16)} inches and ¾ inches.

[0018] The connector nipple 16 has a lower end 22 and an upper end 24. The lower end 22 is adapted for attachment to the upper portion 26 of a paint ball gun 14, such that the lower end 22 of the connector nipple 16 is in communication with the breach chamber 30 of the paint ball gun 14. The lower end 22 of the connector nipple 16 can be attached to the upper portion 26 of the paint ball gun 14 by any suitable connection method, such as by welded, threaded, snap-on or press-fit connection.

[0019] The connector nipple 16 typically has an inside diameter between about {fraction (11/16)} inches and about ¾ inches, so as to be suitable for allowing the gravitation of paint balls from the paint ball reservoir 12 into the breach chamber 30.

[0020] The connector nipple 16 is typically made from a metal, such as from an aluminum alloy or steel. The connector nipple 16 can also be made from other suitable materials, such as from a suitable rigid plastic material.

[0021] At the upper end 24 of the connector nipple 16 is the collet 18. The collet 28 has a base 34 which is externally threaded. The base 34 has a plurality of radially spaced-apart longitudinally slits 36 which allow the uppermost portion 38 of the base 34 to be squeezed inwardly.

[0022] The collet 18 also comprises a nut 40 which is internally threaded with tapered threads. The internal structure of the nut 40 is adapted to cooperate with the external structure of the base 34, so that, when the nut 40 is threadedly disposed on the base 34 and the nut 40 is tightened down onto the base 34, the nut 40 acts to compress the uppermost portion 38 of the base 34 inwardly. By this action, the uppermost portion 38 of the base 34 is uniformly reduced in internal diameter.

[0023] The internal diameter of the base 34 is between about 1 inch and about 1⅛ inches when the nut 40 is not attached to the base 34. After the nut 40 is attached to the base 34 and the nut 40 is tightened down on the base 34, the internal diameter of the upper portion 38 of the base 34 is typically reduced by between about {fraction (1/16)} inches and about ⅛ inches.

[0024] The invention can be conveniently used to attach a paint ball gun reservoir 12 to a paint ball gun 14. The reservoir nipple 20 is first placed into the base 34 of the collet 18 while the nut 40 is loosely disposed about the base 34. After the reservoir nipple 20 is disposed within the base 34, the nut 40 is tightened down onto the base 34. By this action, the internal diameter of the upper portion 38 of the base 34 is reduced, thereby uniformly clamping down around the reservoir nipple 20. The reservoir nipple 20 is rigidly retained by the collet 18 with minimum tendency for the reservoir nipple 20 to “flatten out.”

[0025] The tendency of the reservoir nipple 20 to “flatten out” can be further reduced by the use of a tubular stiffener insert 42. The stiffener insert 42 is made of a material having greater stiffness than the lowermost portion of the reservoir nipple 20. The stiffener insert 42 typically comprises an elongate tubular portion 44 and an end flange 46. The tubular portion 44 typically has a circular cross-section with an outside diameter chosen to substantially match the inside diameter of the reservoir nipple 20. The end flange 46, on the other hand, has an outside diameter which is greater than the inside diameter of the reservoir nipple 20. By this design, the stiffener insert 42 nests within the distal-most portion 48 of the reservoir nipple 20, with the end flange 46 preventing the stiffener insert 42 from sliding up into the paint ball reservoir 12.

[0026] The stiffener insert 42 is typically press-fit into the reservoir nipple 20 before the reservoir nipple 20 is disposed within the collet 18.

[0027] The stiffener insert 42 is typically made from a lightweight metal, such as an aluminum alloy. Other metals, such as steel, can also be used. Also, other suitably stiff materials, such as a stiff plastic material, can be used.

[0028] Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described hereinbelow by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A paint ball gun reservoir connector for connecting a paint ball reservoir to a paint ball gun, the paint ball reservoir having a downwardly directed reservoir nipple, the reservoir connector comprising: (a) a connector nipple having a sufficient interior diameter to allow the serial passage of paint balls through the connector nipple one at a time; and (b) a collet disposed on one end of the connector nipple, the collet being capable of accepting and securely clamping the reservoir nipple to the connector nipple.
 2. A paint ball gun comprising: (a) a breach chamber; (b) a reservoir connector disposed above, and in communication with, the breach chamber; (c) a paint ball reservoir disposed above, and in communication with, the reservoir connector; wherein the connector nipple has an upwardly facing collet and wherein the paint ball reservoir has a downwardly disposed reservoir nipple, the reservoir nipple being disposed within and firmly clamped to the collet. 